Lettering guide



H. C. ROSE LETTERING GUIDE May 11, 1937.

Filed July 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l VA\\\\\\\\V///A May 11, 1937. H. c. ROSE LETTERING GUIDE Filed July 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention appertains to a device for use by draftsmen, sign writers, and the like, to facilitate the lettering of drawings, signs, and such matter. Considerable difliculty is experienced even by skilled persons in properly lettering drawings and the like; so that the letters will all be of a uniform height and in. a straight line. It is generally the practice to draw pencil guide lines on the sheet the desired distance apart, and then to erase the lines after the lettering is complete. This consumes time, and the likelihood of the sheet becoming soiled is always present.

It is therefore a prime object of my invention to provide a novel lettering guide embodying a frame, and a plurality of spaced, parallel wires of extreme thinness, which can be laid upon the sheet, so that the letters can be readily formed between the wires, the entire device facilitating the expeditious forming of the proper lettering.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an angle for use in connection with the de- 1 vice, f or facilitating the making of the sides of the letters, the angle resting upon the wires and engaging the inner edges of the longitudinal bars of the frame, whereby the angle can bereadily slid along the device and held in proper position against twisting movement.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of novel means for tightening the guide wires on the frame, and for forming the frame, whereby the same can be economically manufactured, and whereby the wires can be kept at the desired tension.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lettering guide of a compact and durable con- I struction, in which the guide wires can be read- 11y and quickly moved the desired distance apart, and in a parallel path, so that the selected size of letters can be readily made.

A still further object of my invention is to pro vide a lettering guide of the above character,

. which will be durable and emcient in use, one

, that will be simpleand easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

whichdrawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of my improved lettering guide.

Figure 2 is a top plan view on a smaller scale (c1. sa -174) of another form of my guide, the view illustrat ing the use of the novel angle for the sides of the letters.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the lettering guide, with the angle in place, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a still further form of my guide, the guide being of the adjustable type.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 6,

looking in. the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the adjustable guide, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary top'plan view of the adjustable guide, showing the same in one of its adjusted positions.

Figure 8 is a transverse section through the guide, taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter G generally indicates my improved lettering guide. which comprises a frame 10. This frame It can be formed from any desired material, but preferably may be relatively thin, stainless steel. It is preferred to make the frame 10 in sections, for a purpose which will be later set forth, and hence it will be noted that the frame includes a pair of like angle sections H and I2. The section [0 includes a long leg [3, and a short rightangularly extending leg M. The section l2 also includes a relatively long leg l5 and a relatively short rightangularly extending leg IS. The long legs l3 and I5 constitute the side bars of the frame, while the short legs l4 and I6 constitute the end transverse bars of the frame. The outer terminals of the long legs [3 and i5 are offset, as at ll and I8, respectively, for fitting over the upper face of the short legs [6 and I4, and the free ends of the short legs are bent back upon themselves to form guides [9 for said offset portions.

Struck up lips 20 are formed on the short legs it and I6, and these lips carry adjustable screws it, which are adapted to bear against struck up lips 22 formed on the offset ends I1 and 18 of the long legs of the frame section. Obviously,-

by adjusting the screws 2|, the sections can be slid longitudinally relative to one another.

The outer edges of the short legs l4 and it are provided with kerfs or slits 23 spaced different distances apart. A wire 25 of extreme thinness, such as about eleven thousandths of an inch in diameter, is strung on the frame, so as to provide a plurality of spaced, parallel stretches 25. In applying the wire to the frame, one end is anchored to a pin or the like 26, carried by the short leg it of the frame section i2. The wire is then brought down under the frame, strung longitudinally of theframe and is placed in one of the slits 23. 'LItis then pulledtransversely of the frame to the next slit 23, and is again brought down and stretched longitudinally of the frame.

The wire is thus strung back and forth,and the end thereof is finally anchored to a pin or the like 21 carried by said short leg l6, By adjusting the section of the frame longitudinally, the wire can be brought to thdesired tautness.-

In use of my improved lettering guide, the same is laid flat on the sheet of paper against a T- squareorthe like, and the letters can be readily formed between select-ed pairs of the wire stretches. Obviously, this will facilitate the forming of the letters in a straight line, and of a uniform height. In view of the fact that the stretches'are spaced different distances apart,

different sizes of letters can be easily formed.

In Figure 2 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of my invention, and in this form I provide a frame 30, which can include spaced, parallel side bars 3i and32, and a connecting end bar 33rigidly secured therewith. A movable end bar 34 is provided for the frame and the ends so that the stretches of the wire can be brought to the desired tension. In the present illustration the'cross bar can be provided with struck-up ears 31 carrying adjustable screws 38, which are adapt- 'ed to impinge against struck-up ears 39 on the ends of the side bars 3| and 32.

It is preferred to utilize an angle with my improved guide G for facilitating the making of the sides of theletters or numbers as the case may be. Thus,'in Figures 2 and 3 I have illustrated an angle plate 39' associated with the lettering guide. This angle plate can be made from any desired material, such as transparent celluloid,

and the same includes straight, parallel, transverse and edges for engaging the inner longitudinal edges of the longitudinal sides of the guide.

' The angle is placed on'the wire stretches, and engagement of'the ends of the angle with the side bars'prevents twisting thereof, and insures the correct holding'of the'same in place.

tially eighty degrees tothe longitudinal edges of the side bars- This permits the expeditious forming of letters with either straight or inclined sides.

While I have only shownthe angle 39' associated with that'form of my frame illustrated in Figure 2, it is to be understood that the angle is to be also used with that form of my frame illustrated in Figure 1.

In someinstances itmay be preferred to provide a lettering guide of a compact structure, and to provide means for adjusting the parallel wires to permit the forming of different sized letters. In Figures 4 to 9 I have illustrated my novel adjustable lettering guide. This guide includes movable sections and 46, each of which includes a longitudinally extending leg 41. The outer ends of the legs 4'! have inwardly extending right angularly disposed feet 48. The inner ends of the legs 41 have formed respectively thereon companion heads 49 and 55; fThese heads have their outer ends provided respectively with longitudinally extending slots 5| and 52, and their inner ends respectively with openings 53 and 54. Disposed on opposite sides of the heads 39 and 55 are discs 55 and 5B. The upper disc 56 is of a circular configuration, and preferably has its periphery knurled or serrated to facilitate gripping and turning thereof.

The lower plate 55 carries an axially disposed threaded stud 51, which extends through. the axial center of the top vdisc 56. Also, mounted on the bottom disc 55 are pins 58 and 59 located on opposite sides of the stud. The pin 58 is slidably received in the slot 52 of the head 50, while the pin 59 is received within the opening 53 formed in the head 49. The upper disc 56 carries depending pins and Si, which are located on opposite sides of "the stud Thepin 60 is slidably received within the slot 5!. of the head 59, while the pin 6| is fitted within the opening 54 of the head 50. A knurled nut 52 is threaded on the stud 57, and functions to prevent the separation of the various parts, and to also hold the parts in a desired adjusted position. If desired, a screw 63 can be threaded into the stud to prevent the accidental unthreading of the knurled thumb nut 62 from off of the stud.

Each of the sections 45 and 46 carry guide wires 64, and these guide wires are threaded back and,

forth from the feet 48 to the head 49 and 50, openings being provided in these members through which the wires are threaded. The wires can be tensioned by means of tighteners 65, which can be of any preferred form. In the present instance I have shown the tighteners to consist of screws extending through upturned lips 61 on the sections, and the screws are threaded into sockets 68 to which terminals of the wire are tied.

In use of this form of my invention, when it is desired to change the distance between the wires 54, the top disc 56 is turned, which will carry the pins and BI therewith. The swinging of the pins will act'to spread the legs 41,

and obviously the legs are always kept parallel through the connection of the various pins with their slots and openings.

My improved device will efi'iciently speed u lettering, and will not limit the style of the letters. The device is -especially useful in teaching lettering, and can also be used by printers salesmen in laying out ads or the like.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the-spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:-- 4 v 1. A lettering guide comprising a pair of inde pendent legs having inwardly directed feet, a

wire connected with the feet of each leg and disposed in parallel relation to its leg, outwardly extending heads formed on the legs each having a longitudinally.extending --slot and an opening therein, discs engaging the upper and lowerfaces of the heads, an axially disposed stud. carried by the lower disc and extending through theupper disc-,a nut threaded on. the stud for engagfeet, a fine wire connected with the feet of each leg and disposed in parallel relation to its leg, and means operativeiy connected to said legs at one end for moving the legs in parallel direction toward and away from one another to vary the 5 position of the wires carried by the legs.

HOMER C. ROSE. 

